Burscough, Lancashire. UK Weather. 29th November, of thousands of starling seeking a communal roost in the reed beds at Martin Mere, are harried and pursed by a resident peregrine falcon. The shapes and swirls form part of an evasive technique to survive and to confound and dazzle the bird of prey. The larger the simulated flocks, the harder it is for the predators to single out and catch an individual bird. Starlings can fly swiftly in coordinated and mesmerising formations as a group action to survive the attack. Credit;MediaWorldImages/AlamyLiveNews.
The onset of winter triggers these mumurations as huge flocks of gregarious birds congregate to find communal roosts. The murmur or chatter, the interaction and communication between birds as they fly, is quite intense. These displays are the largest seen in the last for 12 years and are attracting large numbers of birdwatchers to the area. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands.
Size: 3600px × 2400px
Location: Burscough, UK
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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